Participatory Educative Theatre

Education

Funding: 3897€ / 10255€

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A theatre group tours through schools and villages to introduce the themes of HIV, early pregnancy and women’s rights. Through these Participatory Educative Theaters, the presentation of real life scenarios and the direct relation of the audience to them, these controversial topics and their severe consequences become much better comprehensible and thus cause a lasting change in the society.

A Young Woman with a Clear Message

The Kenyan theatre group LASER (Little Artists Seeking Eternal Recognition) Arts Ensemble was trained by Dr. Wanda Galecki along with our staff regarding reproductive health and collectively created the Participatory Educative Theatre piece called “Benter”. This play refers to common situations in the lives of (young) women and men. With the clear messages “prevention is important” and “women have a right to take self-determined decisions”, their lives are staged in an easily comprehensible and humorous depiction.

There are two versions of the stage play. One general one, which is presented on market days in various communities and another one, which is tailor-made with age appropriate content for the needs of students. Due to that, the respective audience can easily empathize the character’s situation, problems and is open for concrete recommended actions.

The event is a refreshing change from the routine of students and market visitors. Laughter and interludes are not discouraged but highly welcomed. With the leap from traditional lessons to participatory learning, we hope to contribute to a lasting change in the collective consciousness. For women and girls, the importance of their individual goals and their achievability is being clearly highlighted and promoted. Boys and men learn to recognize and respect these, even when reaching an adult age. In addition, the dangers of unprotected sexual intercourse are illustrated in terms of health and economy. All of this is communicated with the message “Children are a gift and an enrichment – yet adequate childhood development is associated with costs and challenges”.

Starting in September 2017, 81 Participatory Educative Theaters will take place in schools and 60 stage plays in communities within the next three years.
We can facilitate one theatre session with 73 Euro. Through approved funding from the Austrian Development Agency and the County of Lower Austria, a substantial part of it could already be covered. With just 45 Euro, you can sponsor an entire Theatre play and thereby make a significant impact in supporting us to realize this promising and urgently needed project!
Read more about the entire three-year Program in Reproductive Health and Gender Equality.
The ADC Co-Funding (Austrian Development Agency) is 36,53 per cent.